S'mores Murders by Maya Corrigan

Started: 5/17/2026

Finished: 5/22/2026

Year: 2018

Pages: 267

Genre: Cozy mystery

Grade: B

Reason for reading: library book, continuing with series

Type: paperback

Blurb (from Amazon): "Since catering themed events is a good way to make extra cash, Val agrees to board the Titanic—or at least cater a re-creation of the doomed journey on a yacht. The owner of the yacht, who collects memorabilia related to the disaster, wants Val to serve the last meal the Titanic passengers ate . . . while his guests play a murder-mystery game. But it is the final feast for one passenger who disappears from the ship. And that’s only the tip of the iceberg.

"Now Val has to reel in a killer before s’more murders go down . . ."

Opinion: Interesting combination of a 30 year old mystery, Titantic and current day.

A Batter of Life and Death by Ellie Alexander

Started: 5/12/2026

Finished: 5/17/2026

Year: 2015

Pages: 269

Genre: cozy mystery

Grade: B

Reason for reading: library book, continuing with series

Type: paperback

Blurb (from Amazon): "It's autumn in Ashland, Oregon-'tis the season for a spiced hot apple cider with a serving (or two) of Torte's famous peach cobbler. It's also the perfect time for Jules Capshaw to promote her family's beloved bake shop by competing in The Pastry Channel's reality show, Take the Cake. The prize is $25,000. But as Jules quickly learns, some people would kill for that kind of dough. Literally.

"Then, just as Jules dusts off her Bavarian Chocolate Cake recipe and cinches up her apron, the corpse of a fellow contestant is discovered-death by buttercream. What began as a fun, tasteful televised adventure has morphed into something of a true-crime detective show for Jules and everybody else on set. Who could have killed Chef Marco, and why? Can Jules sift out the killer before someone else gets burned?"

Opinion: Good mysterythat had just enough suspects to not be easily solved.

Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman

Started: 5/6/2026

Finished: 5/12/2026

Year: 2020

Pages: 447

Genre: Fantasy/Adventure

Grade: B

Reason for reading: library book

Type: hardcover

Blurb (from Amazon): "You know what’s worse than breaking up with your girlfriend? Being stuck with her prize-winning show cat. And you know what’s worse than that? An alien invasion, the destruction of all man-made structures on Earth, and the systematic exploitation of all the survivors for a sadistic intergalactic game show. That’s what.

"Join Coast Guard vet Carl and his ex-girlfriend’s cat, Princess Donut, as they try to survive the end of the world—or just get to the next level—in a video game–like, trap-filled fantasy dungeon. A dungeon that’s actually the set of a reality television show with countless viewers across the galaxy. Exploding goblins. Magical potions. Deadly, drug-dealing llamas. This ain’t your ordinary game show."

Opinion: Fans of D&D should enjoy this-or at least can relate when playing a low level character trying to go through a DMs adventure.

The Tell-Tale Tarte by Maya Corrigan

Started: 5/3/2026

Finished: 5/6/2026

Year: 2017

Pages: 301

Genre: cozy mystery

Grade: B-

Reason for reading: library book, continuing with series

Type: paperback

Blurb (from Amazon): "The last thing Val needs in her life is an unsolved murder, especially when the victim, an actor famed for impersonating Edgar Allan Poe, happens to be dressed exactly like her Granddad. To keep an eye on Granddad, whose latest job takes him to the home of Rick Usher, a local author inspired by Poe, Val gets herself hired as a cook in Rick’s House of Usher. When she discovers the actor wasn’t the only one doing an impersonation, separating the innocent from the murderous becomes a real-life horror story. But Val must decipher a killer’s M.O. sooner rather than later . . . or she can forget about finding poetic justice."

Opinion: Not as enjoyable as others in the series but still a decent mystery overall. 

Carrie by Stephen King

Started: 4/30/2026

Finished: 5/3/2026

Year: 1974

Pages: 290

Genre: horror/thriller

Grade: B

Reason for reading: library book, reading King's books in order of published

Type: paperback

Blurb (from Amazon): "Unpopular at school and subjected to her mother's religious fanaticism at home, Carrie White does not have it easy. But while she may be picked on by her classmates, she has a gift she's kept secret since she was a little girl: she can move things with her mind. Doors lock. Candles fall. Her ability has been both a power and a problem. And when she finds herself the recipient of a sudden act of kindness, Carrie feels like she's finally been given a chance to be normal. She hopes that the nightmare of her classmates' vicious taunts is over . . . but an unexpected and cruel prank turns her gift into a weapon of horror so destructive that the town may never recover."

Opinion: I had seen the movie years ago but never read the book. From what I remembered, the movie followed the book. Don't ever piss off the quiet, strange kid in school